This article explains the effect of implicit biases on assessment and treatment of patient pain and describes how enhanced recovery after surgery protocols are used across many specialties to reduce rates of opioid use.

The following Statement on the Opioid Abuse Epidemic was developed by the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy and the Division of Education Patient Education Committee; it was approved by the ACS Board of Regents at its June 2017 meeting.

State legislative priorities for the ACS in 2016, including opioid abuse, narrow insurance networks, surprise billings, and trauma system development, are summarized as are key issues that will be addressed at the state level next year.